The First Lackey Under The Empress

In the pavilion.

Faced with the question posed by Zhao Du'an, the young master Dong hesitated, cupped his hands, and said with a sweaty face:

“My family is small and humble. The reason I was able to come here is because I donate a lot of incense money to Shenlong Temple every year. Haha, it’s not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning.”

Zhao Du'an said “Oh,” and understood in his heart.

This Dong scholar should indeed not be the son of a large official family.

Perhaps his family is in business, so he has the money to donate. As for not saying it, it’s also understandable. Using money to get in is indeed not respectable.

He didn't associate the bookworm in front of him with Grand Preceptor Dong.

The surname "Dong" is not uncommon in the Great Yu Dynasty.

Moreover, the children of the Grand Preceptor's family must have high standards, how could they be obsessed with a prostitute who sells laughter... He was almost tricked.

It's not reasonable.

“Brother Zhao, how did you get in?” Dong Da asked curiously.

Zhao Du'an smiled and lied:

“An elder in my family also helped me get a spot. I heard that Master Bianji is presiding over it himself this year, so I was curious and came to take a look.”

Dong Da nodded repeatedly, without thinking too much, and even more without associating the "Brother Zhao" in front of him with the famous male favorite of the Empress…

The logic is clearer:

How could the Empress's male favorite go to a common prostitute so openly?

It's not reasonable.

Thus, based on their respective logic, the two successfully concealed their identities from each other.

You Jinhua and Zhao Pan didn't say anything, and didn't expose Dalang's lies, they just whispered curiously, looking around.

“Speaking of which, this is my first time in such a setting, but I don’t know where the great figures in the capital and Master Bianji are?” Zhao Du'an asked shamelessly.

Dong Da smiled upon seeing this:

“Brother Zhao, you don’t know, this Zhai Garden is also divided into inner and outer areas. What you and I are in at the moment is the outer garden.

The family members of those great figures, the invited scholars, the wealthy benefactors of Shenlong Temple, or some who have obtained invitations but are not of sufficient status, are all here.

Only when offering sacrifices to the gods later will there be a chance to see the true face of the master. Those real big shots are all in the inner garden.”

He raised his hand and pointed to the depths of the garden.

“Is that so…” Zhao Du'an took an orange from the fruit plate and played with it, thinking:

Does Shenlong Temple think my status is not high enough? Not worthy of entering the inner garden?

Suddenly, he felt the same way as the monkey who was a groom for horses.

Dong Da didn't notice his expression and said with great interest:

“As for Master Bianji, he is indeed intriguing. It is said that he also has a transcendent position in Shenlong Temple.

Abbot Xuanyin and Zhang Tianshi rarely set foot in the mortal world. Therefore, Master Bianji has almost become the acting person of Master Xuanyin outside… just like Consort Mo in the palace to His Majesty…”

In his description, Zhao Du'an also had a deeper understanding of that "Monk Bianji".

He is also a disciple of Master Xuanyin, and his level is obviously one level higher than Jin Jian.

Not only is his cultivation strong, but it is said that because he majors in the Buddhist "World Honored One", his wisdom surpasses others.

He is especially good at playing Zen riddles. Every time he enters the mansion of a high-ranking official, he has insightful remarks.

His most famous is a small public case.

It is said that one day, Master Xuanyin was lecturing in the temple and asked the monks:

“Where is the birthplace of all Buddhas?”

Everyone was silent, only the youngest monk Bianji in the audience smiled and said:

“The birthplace has nothing to do with Buddha, the grass turns green in spring.”

Since then, the phrase "the grass turns green in spring" has spread widely.

It also made Monk Bianji famous.

Some people say that Monk Bianji is very likely to become the new abbot of Shenlong Temple in the future, reaching the "Heaven" realm.

… …

“Sounds amazing.”

Zhao Du'an marveled.

Beside him, Zhao Pan silently peeled a banana, Zhao Du'an opened his mouth and ate it, leaving the girl with a dazed face.

“…” Dong Da saw Zhao Du'an chewing on the banana while praising.

For a moment, he was a little unsure of the authenticity of the praise, and then said:

“However, compared to Master Bianji, the most watched today are the scholars of the Xiuwen Academy.”

Zhao Du'an: “Oh?”

Dong Da pointed around:

“Brother Zhao, look, those scholars are all coming for the group of scholars headed by Han Banshan.

Don’t you see them all looking forward to it, looking at the gate? I just don’t know when those people will come, maybe they will have to wait until the afternoon, or even the evening.”

Zhao Du'an swallowed the banana and said casually:

“No, they will be here later.”

Last night, he asked at the Xiuwen Academy.

Grand Preceptor Dong told him that the new policy was basically finalized and there was no need to hide it anymore.

He asked him if he wanted to come to the Dharma Assembly with the identity of a scholar from the Xiuwen Academy tomorrow, just to help him become famous.

Zhao Du'an shook his head and said that it was not necessary.

Besides, he had to bring his stepmother and sister, which was inconvenient, so he didn't agree, but came alone first.

“Haha, Brother Zhao, you are so sure, as if you know it.”

Dong Da joked, he is the eldest grandson of the Grand Preceptor, and he doesn't know.

Not to mention outsiders, they only think he is joking.

Zhao Du'an didn't explain, and suddenly said:

“I heard that these scholars have been scolding Zhao Jisi of the Imperial Censorate very fiercely recently. I heard that even academicians in the Hanlin Academy are participating in the scolding… Brother Dong is also a scholar, do you know those people? Are they here?”

Dong Da smiled:

“Are you talking about Chen Zhengru, a Hanlin Academy academician?

There is also a Hanlin who scolds the most fiercely, named Xu.

It's not surprising. As far as I know, this Chen Zhengru is a member of the 'Li Party'. That Zhao Jisi has made many enemies with the Li Party in the past few months, so it's normal to be scolded.

As for that Hanlin Xu, ha, there is an interesting story.

It is said that a few months ago, because of the conversion of rice to mulberry in Huai River, he once wrote to the Holy One, proposing a method of 'combining relief with conversion'... Later, he was reprimanded by the Holy One's oral decree…

Look, the one sitting over there, talking loudly, is Hanlin Xu.”

After a pause, he seemed to think that he had said too much in detail, and hurriedly added:

“

“These anecdotes are widely circulated among scholars, but I don’t know whether they are true or not.”

Zhao Du’an was stunned for a moment, not expecting this level of background.

No wonder those scholars were so enthusiastic in scolding him. He originally thought it was scholarly spirit and jealousy…

Now it seems that it was the “Li Party’s” Grand Scholar Chen and his disciples who were fueling the flames.

A thought suddenly struck him.

If the Li Party is pushing this… then perhaps the recent scolding war against him is not as simple as it seems on the surface.

At this moment, Dong Da suddenly frowned, feeling discomfort in his abdomen, and stood up, saying:

“Brother Zhao, please rest for a while, this foolish brother needs to visit the privy.”

Zhao Du’an smiled and nodded.

After the other party left, the mother and daughter duo next to him leaned over.

“Young Master, are you acquainted with this person? He doesn’t seem to recognize your identity?”

You Jinhua asked in a low voice, her eyes full of curiosity.

“Yes, I had a brief encounter with him while handling a case before,” Zhao Du’an said self-deprecatingly:

“As for my identity, ha, if he knew who I was, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to chat together.”

Zhao Pan peeled another banana, protecting it with her small hand to prevent it from being snatched away, and suddenly said:

“Those scholars seem to be constantly looking over here.”

Zhao Du’an nodded, he had also noticed it.

It seems that after all, there are some people who have recognized him.

However, today is the Ullambana Festival.

Zhao Du’an pondered, this group of scholars wouldn't disregard the Buddha's face, and wouldn't necessarily cause trouble for him.

However, just as he was chatting with the women.

Suddenly, a commanding voice from a distance, deliberately amplified many times, suddenly rang out:

“Oh, isn’t this the recently popular Zhao Inspector? The little Yama of the Imperial Prison, why has he also come to this pure land of Buddhism? I wonder which receptionist monk was negligent and let people in indiscriminately.”

The voice was loud and the tone was sarcastic.

In an instant, the surrounding crowds, who were originally gathered separately, all looked towards this side.

The air was briefly quiet for a moment.

Then, people realized what was happening.

“Zhao Inspector? Is that Zhao Du’an? Where is he?”

“The one in the pavilion, hiss, how could the Shenlong Temple invite him? In previous years, they didn’t even invite Yama Ma?”

“It’s Young Master Dong San… tsk, I heard that the two had a feud back then, there’s a good show to watch today.”

Amidst the discussions.

Zhao Du’an also looked towards the source of the voice.

He saw a young man, about twenty years old, dressed in fancy clothes, with an arrogant aura, walking over with a sneer.

His appearance was unremarkable, and he was tall and thin, with only a small birthmark on the side of his face.

At this moment, his face was unruly, his aura was imposing, and he was followed by several other纨绔.

He swaggered into the pavilion, his eyelids drooping, glanced at the mother and daughter duo beside Zhao Du’an, who were instinctively huddled together, and suddenly smiled, taunting loudly:

“The whole capital knows that you, Zhao Du’an, are loyal to His Majesty, and you never touch other women outside, even in brothels.

This young master didn’t believe it before, but now I understand, it turns out you have two beauties at home, no wonder you don’t need to go outside to vent your desires.”

哗——

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the surrounding celebrities in the capital who had gathered around changed subtly.

It wasn't that they really believed Dong San's nonsense.

It was more that they were surprised that the Grand Tutor's grandson was indeed worthy of being the "number one纨绔子弟 in the capital".

Knowing that Zhao Du’an has been in the limelight recently, he still dares to humiliate him in person.

Is he relying on the fact that the Dong family has risen again with the opening of the Xiwen Hall?

Everyone knows that Grand Tutor Dong is now in charge of the “New Cabinet” on behalf of His Majesty, and scholars such as Han Zhou are disciples of Grand Tutor Dong.

As long as the Empress's throne can be secured, the Dong family has a chance to become the number one clan in the empire.

In this way, the “Little Third Master”, who is already flamboyant and often quarrels with people, is indeed not afraid of Zhao Du’an.

There is a show to watch.

Everyone had the same thought in their hearts.

“Young Master, don’t…”

Inside the pavilion, the first to react after Dong San said these words was actually You Jinhua.

This weak and timid beauty hurriedly reached out to pull her stepson, fearing that he would be provoked and fight with the other party.

Although You Jinhua was in the inner house, she also knew that the Dong family was in full swing recently.

The literary giant, the Empress's teacher, Grand Tutor Dong, was quite displeased with her stepson.

If Zhao Du’an were to take action in anger on such an important occasion today, who knows what kind of revenge he would suffer from the Dong family.

“Young Master, don’t be angry, it’s not worth it to ruin your health… Aunt and Pan’er are fine.”

You Jinhua persuaded him bitterly in a low voice.

In this feudal dynasty, a woman's reputation was more important than anything else.

Dong San's words spread out, in fact, it would not cause much harm to Zhao Du'an.

It was You Jinhua and Zhao Pan who would really suffer damage to their reputation, be pointed at for the rest of their lives, and live in the shadows for the rest of their lives.

However…

At this moment, even at the cost of knowing that her reputation would be damaged, You Jinhua still tried her best to dissuade him.

Even Zhao Pan, who was usually very opinionated, bit her lip and quietly grabbed Zhao Du’an’s arm.

Dong San stood high above, looking down at Zhao Du’an, who was being dissuaded by the two women, a grin on his still-youthful face:

“What, I only said one sentence, and they’ve already come to protect their man?”

Around, there was silence, only his laughter.

In full view of everyone, Zhao Du’an remained seated, all the expressions on his face concealed.

There was no anger, nor any other emotion.

He just quietly watched this “number one纨绔 in the capital” perform, slowly peeling an orange in his hand.

After he finished laughing, Zhao Du’an slowly and deliberately handed the peeled orange to the mother and daughter.

Then he lightly dusted off his hands, raised his head, and said calmly:

“Dong Xuanping, didn’t you teach your descendants not to learn to bark like dogs outside?”

Dong Xuan, is Grand Tutor Dong's name.

Brief silence, and then…

A burst of uproar.

……

First update, then edit.